Apparatus for encapsulation under vacuum

ABSTRACT

A VACUUM CHAMBER IS FORMED BY MEANS OF A SIDE WALL PORTION AND BASE AND COVER PORTIONS WHICH ARE FITTED TO THE SIDE WALL PORTION IN VACUUM TIGHT RELATIONSHIP. THE COVER PORTION IS TRANSPARENT TO PERMIT VIEWING OF THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAMBER AND HAS AN ACCESS OPENING IN WHICH A DISPENSER DEVICE IS SUPPORTED. A TURNTABLE IS SUPPORTED IN THE BASE PORTION, THIS TURNTABLE BEING MANUALLY ROTATABLE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CHAMBER. WITH ARTICLES TO BE ENCAPSULATED OR IMPREGNATED PLACED IN THE CHAMBER ON THE TURNABLE , THE CHAMBER IS EVACUATED AND ENCAPSULATING MATERIAL DISPENSED THEREON FROM THE DISPENSER DEVICE. THE TURNTABLE IS ROTATABLE AND THE DISPENSER DEVICE. THE TURNTABLE TATE APPLICATION OF THE ENCAPSULATING MATERIAL TO THE ARTICLES.

y 1972 A. .1v DEVINE 3,664,786

APPARATUS FOR EMMPSULATION UNDLH VACUUM illzd April 15, 1970 2Sheets-Sheet} lA/l/E/V 701?.

A {1/2 ur JDel/i/y e y 23, 1972 A. J DEVINE 3,664,786

APPARATUS FOR ENCAPSULATION UNDER VACUUM Filed April 15, 1970 2Sheets-Sheet 2 "IIIIIIIIIIII AnfhurJIDev/rze States Patent ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A vacuum chamber is formed by means of a side wallportion 'and base and cover portions which are fitted to the sidewallportion in vacuum tight relationship. The cover portion is transparentto permit viewing of the contents of the-chamber and has an accessopening in which a dispenser device is supported. A turntable issupported in the base portion, this turntable being manually rotatablefrom outside-of the chamber. With articles to be encapsulatedorimpregnated placed in-the chamber on the turntable, the chamber isevacuatedand encapsulating material dispensed thereon from the dispenserdevice. The turntable is rotatable and the dispenser device manipulableto facilitate application -ofthe encapsulating material to the articles.i

My invention relates to an encapsulating apparatus comprising aturntable within a vacuum chamber and improved means for applyingviscous material on components to be encapsulated, and specifically withthe intended purpose of eliminating air pockets.

In this apparatus troublesome bubbles become thoroughly eliminated byvacuum means while permitting parts to be degassed andther'efore' freeof moisture and other detrimental volatiles before delivering viscousmaterial to components for encapsulation.

In this apparatus such slender parts and coils can also be totalimpregnated without additional follow up of refinishing by'handoperations.

Other features of this invention'are a single three-way valve controland rapid alignment of nozzle with molds on a turntable within a vacuumchamber for pinpointing flow of viscous material to components.

Much emphasis is also placed on the plain view of my invention and quickadjustment of all parts for operation as well as for'dismantlingofapparatus for cleaning purposes.

Other objects; the nature, and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing.

FIG. lis a perspective View of my invention with a section cut away toshow the vacuum chamber interior.

FIG. 2 is a partial top view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1. r A

1 FIG; 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

- FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on line 4.V-4 of FIG. 3'.g a

- FIG. 51s an enlarged view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3 showing thevalve pin manipulation.

FIG. 6 shows llQWilhG cylinders can be stacked to increase height ofvacuum chamber.

My invention is generally designated 10 and consists of one or more opentubular cylinders 11 formed of a strong, light weight, material such asaluminum, the edges 12 of which are encased by flexible seal rings 13 bymeans of seal ring channels 14 as shown in FIG. 3. The seal ring 13 onthe lower edge of cylinder 11 rests on the surface 16 of a base platemeans 15 which is provided with suitable legs or supports 17, baseplate15 is formed of a rigid material, preferably metal, which can bemachined to a ice;

smooth surface 16 and be of sufiicient thickness to prevent warping orbucking and to allow ample threading surface for a pipethreaded opening18 centrally located therein.

Opening 18 in baseplate 15 supports a fitting assembly 19 which isprovided with an internal bushing means 20 which together with a tapered(rubber) bushing 21 and a threaded cap 22 sreves to give frictionalsupport and vacuum sealing for a turntable support shaft 23. A manualshaft positioning wheel 26 is attached on the lower end of shaft 23. Aturntable 24 which may support a replaceable disc 25 is secured to theupper end of shaft 23 inside vacuum chamber 9 which is formed bycylinder 11, base plate surface 16 and the surface 28 of a transparentplate glass cover 27 of suflicient thickness to withstand atmosphericpressure and permit a clear view of the chamber 9 interior.

Cover 27 is provided with an opening 30' near its periphery ofsubstantially greater diameter than the tube portion 31 of a dispensingcartridge 32. Said cartridge 32 is mounted in a said tapered opening 33of a puck 34 having a greater diameter than that of said opening 30 inplate cover 27. A tapered compressible bushing 37 in opening 33 providesair tight sealing means between cartridge 32 and puck 34. Vacuum sealingbetween puck 34 and surface 28 of cover 27 is achieved by a rubberO-ring 35 which is held in place on the under-side of puck 34 by groove36 therein. This arrangement allows puck 34 with dispensing cartridge 32to be manually shifted or orientated within the confines of plateopening 30' to assure most accurate placement of the viscous material 42to the components or molds 44, even when chamber 9 is under vacuum, seeFIGS. 3 and 4.

An elongated valve rod 38 being substantially longer than cartridge 32extends there-through and has at its lower end a pointed tip 38' forminga simple valve 41 in conjunction with a reduced opening 39 in cartridgetip 39. Thus manual manipulation of valve shaft 38, see FIG. 1, willpermit drop by drop 43 to full flow application of material 42 on orinto the molds 44 positioned on disc 25 in vacuum chamber 9. The upperend of cartridge 32 may be threaded as at 48 to receive a containermeans 49 which may be supplied in different sizes and may be dis-'carded with cartridge 32 as a time saving alternative to cleaning whenthe encapsulation operation is completed. Molded plastic cartridges arecommercially available and are used for other applications.

A most important feature of my invention is the extreme simplicity ofits operation. Components or molds 44 are placed around the periphery ofdisc 25, cylinder 11 is positioned on baseplate surface 16 and topped bycoverplate 27. The tube portion of cartridge 32 is inserted through puckmeans 34 into vacuum chamber 9 through opening 30. By virtue of theabove described vacuum seal means chamber 9 is made air-tight and isready to be evacuated by vacuum pump through vent 45 in baseplate 15 andthree-way valve 46. While hand A, see FIG. 1, manipulates valve stem 38hand B on wheel 26 can rotate,- elevate or retract turntable 24 toposition each mold 44 under cartridge tip 39 for filling. More accuratemeans for positioning of said cartridge 32 are here-before described.When the molds 4-4 are all filled vacuum valve 46 is opened fillingchamber 9 with air and permitting cover assembly 27 to be removed sothat disc 25 with molds may be lifted out for placing in a curing ovenor other process.

A vacuum indicating gauge 50 may -be mounted on baseplate 15 andconnected to chamber 9 by suitable vent means 47. It may be pointed outthat two or more of the cylinders 11 may be stacked as shown in FIG. 6if the height of the mold so warrants.

Although I have herein described the nature and use of my invention sothat persons skilled in the art will have no ditficulty in understandingits contents and insomuch as the disclosure is susceptible of Variousmodifications and improvements, I hereby reserve the right to allmodifications and improvements falling within the scope and spirit of myinvention as well as any modifications that are suggested in theaccompanying drawings and any that may come within the purview of theforegoing description; my invention to be limited only by the appendedclaims.

Having thus disclosed and revealed my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. Apparatus for impregnating articles with a vicous materialcomprising:

a vacuum chamber,

a turntable rotatably mounted within said chamber,

said articles being supported on said turntable, means extending to theoutside of said chamber for rotatably positioning said turntable,

dispenser means for dispensing said material onto said articles,

said chamber having an opening formed therein,

means for supporting said dispenser means in said opening for movementaxially and radially relative to said turntable, said supporting meansincluding sealing means for airtightly fitting said dispenser meansthrough said opening,

said dispenser means including valve means manipulable from outside ofsaid chamber for controlling the rate of dispensing of said material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting means for thedispenser comprises a puck having an opening therein through which thedispenser is fitted in airtight relationship, said chamber having a topcover in which the chamber opening is formed, said puck resting on saidcover over said cover opening.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said sealing means includes anO-ring seal fitted in said puck between said puck and said cover.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said dispenser means furthercomprises a dispenser cartridge having a container for said viscousmaterial positioned outside of said chamber and a tube extending fromsaid container through said puck member opening into said chamber, saidtube having a nozzle for dispensing the material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said valve means comprises a rodhaving one end thereof extending out from the top end of said containerand the other end extending out from the bottom end of the container tosaid nozzle, said rod being positionable relative to the nozzle tocontrol the rate of flow of the material therethrough.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said turntable is slidably supportedin said chamber for movement along the rotation axis thereof.

7. In combination,

a vacuum chamber having a transparent cover,

a turntable mounted within said chamber,

a shaft attached to said turntable,

a gland member threadably attached to the base of said chamber throughwhich said shaft enters said chamber,

a sleeve bearing mounted in said gland member for cartridge including anozzle for dispensing material into said chamber, and i a valve rodpositioned in said nozzle for controlling the flow of materialtherefrom.

8. In combination: 7.

a vacuum chamber with a 'cover plate having an opening therein, 6 v

a turntable mounted in said chamber for axial and rotatable movement,

a plurality of molds positioned on said turntable,

a movable puck supported on said cover plate over said opening toprovide a seal over said opening; a dispensing cartridge having a nozzlefor dispensing fluid material into said molds, V 7

said puck having a tapered bore; I Y 1 a compressible bushing mounted insaid bore for engaging said nozzle, said bushing permitting axialmovement of the nozzle, and

a pointed rod member fitted in said nozzle tor valving the dispensingaction of said nozzle.

9. The apparatus of claim .2 wherein said top cover is transparent topermit viewing of the inside of said chamber. t

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chamber is modularlyconstructed froma plurality of similar sidewall sections stacked on topof each other with a baseplate member forming the bottom of the chamberand. a transparent plate forming a top cover therefor.

11. In apparatus for impregnataing articles'with a viscous material,said apparatus including a vacuum chamber in which said articles arecontained, the improvement comprising means for dispensing said materialonto said articles through an opening insaid chamber, said meansincluding: v

a puck member placed over said chamber opening and having sealing meansthereon to provide an airtight seal, said puck member having an openingformed therein, v

a dispenser cartridge-fitted through said puck member opening inairtight relationship with said puck mem-, ber, and including acontainer, for said viscous material positioned outside of said chamberand a dispenser tube extending from said container through the openingin said puck member into said chamber, said puck member being mountedfor radial positioning in said opening, said tube member having adispensing nozzle thereon and. being mounted for axial positioning, and4 a valve rod slidably mounted in said tube member with one end thereofin said nozzle and the other end thereof extending through saidcontainer for manual manipulation, said valve rod being manipulable tocontrol the flow rate of said viscous material through said nozzle. v

'12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said chamber includes atransparent cover, said opening being formed'in said cover.

References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,461,723 2/1949 Cowan'; 264Dig. 78 3,081,492 3/1963 Gozegorczyk 18--Dig. 60 2,351,774 6/1944McGowen 264-297 2,472,660 6/1949 "HO0d,.,... 18-Dig.. 60

ROBERTL. SPICER, 111., Primary Examiner Us. or. X.R."

264 101','Di 371425-261, 173,117,.1s2, 449-

